Feds should intervene to safeguard Victorian endangered species from logging

Greens MP and forests spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling on the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to intervene to pressure the Victorian government to drop proposals enabling loggers to seek exemptions from Victorian laws protecting endangered and threatened species ("New state law in the pipeline to aid loggers", p 5 The Age today).

"This backward move by the Victorian government will expose threatened and endangered species to the chainsaw. It demands a response from Minister Burke who is charged with protecting native flora and fauna," Senator Rhiannon said.

"What we see in Victoria is further erosion of the gossamer protections that exist for native forests and endangered species. Mr Burke should not sit idly by while the downgrading occurs.